Man Whose 1st Wife’s Murder Is Unsolved Gets Accused of Abuse by Current Wife | “Will Continue to Fight for Answers”

Content Warning: The following content contains mentions and descriptions of intimate partner violence which may be distressing to some readers. 

Benjamin Ledyard, 55, has been charged with assault in the second degree, terroristic threatening, and menacing. Ledyard, the ex-husband of an unsolved murder, is now suspected of physically assaulting his current partner. Officers were summoned to a residence in Wilmington on New Year's Day at roughly 1:50 p.m. for an "in progress domestic dispute," according to the New Castle County Division of Police.

On New Year's Day, New Castle County Police arrived at a home on Camp David Road to find the 54-year-old woman bleeding from the head. "She had been assaulted by her husband, Benjamin Ledyard," Sgt. Tracey Duffy of the New Castle County Police told ABC 6. The woman informed authorities that she had been hit with a tiny statue and that the abuse had been going on for a while. "A pool stick or a cue stick was used to threaten her," said Duffy.

Officers were told by Ledyard's partner that she argued with him about loud music, per PEOPLE. "During the argument, Ledyard grabbed a pool stick and began swinging the object and chasing the victim around the house," according to a police press release. "Ledyard then struck the victim in the head with a heavy marble item leaving a large laceration."

According to court filings, Ledyard banged her head on their home's wooden floors. Ledyard is currently being held on a bail of $77,000. According to authorities, he was taken to jail without incident. Ledyard has not entered a plea. Peter W. Veith, his attorney, declined to comment on the matter. A preliminary hearing is planned for January 24.

According to New Castle County Police, the woman was also critically hurt in the summer. "Benjamin Ledyard bit off the tip of her finger," Duffy said. In connection with this earlier altercation between the couple, Ledyard was charged with first-degree assault.

Ledyard was previously seen when his wife was murdered in 2019. The murder of his first wife remains unsolved, according to Delaware State Police. Susan Morrissey Ledyard, 50, went missing in the early hours of July 23, 2019. Susan taught language arts at Sharon Hill's Academy Park High School.

Ledyard was never charged with her death. However, her family has been appealing for assistance in solving this case. "We thought it was some sort of an accident," Susan's younger sister Meg Heinicke previously told PEOPLE. "Who would want to kill her? Nobody would. The police had to convince us that this was not an accident. It just seemed so outrageous and impossible to believe."

"We want to remind the public that Susan's case is an active, open homicide investigation," the family had said in a statement to PEOPLE. "We will continue to do everything in our power to help get this case solved. There is a $50k reward for information leading to an arrest. Susan's family and friends love and miss her terribly and we will continue to fight for answers."

References:

https://people.com/crime/former-husband-woman-whose-murder-remains-unsolved-now-accused-assaulting-current-partner/

https://6abc.com/ben-ledyard-delaware-assault-beating-up-wife-susan-morrissey/12652945/

Cover Image Source: New Castle County Division of Police